Git basics: save your work without fear

Git

A beginner-friendly intro to git: why version control exists, clone, commit, push, and the few commands you actually need first.

Syllabus

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What you will learn

Why teams use git, and the smallest set of commands that let you save and share work safely.

Why bother

Without version control, “final_v3_really_final.zip” becomes normal. Git keeps a history of changes so you can undo mistakes, compare versions and work with other people on the same project.

Core ideas

Repository — the project folder plus its history
Commit — a snapshot you choose to keep, with a short note
Branch — a line of work (start with main)
Remote — a copy on a host like GitHub

Commands to practise first

git status — what changed?
git add . — stage changes for the next commit
git commit -m "Explain the change"
git push — send commits to the remote
git pull — bring remote changes down

Habit that saves you

Commit often with honest messages. Small commits are easier to understand — and easier to undo — than one giant dump at the end of the week.

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